Improvement in tiles



DAVID 'H. WATTS.

Improvement in Tiles.

No. 121,029, I Patented Nov; 14, I871.

g j I i UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

DAVID H. WATTS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND W. O. SHARPLESS, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN TILES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 121,029, dated November 14, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID H. WATTS, of Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improved Tile, of which the following is a specification:

My invention consists of a tile, having the dovetailed grooves described hereafter for the secure attachment of the tile not only to a floor but to walls and ceilings.

Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved tile; Fig. 2, a vertical section of the tile as it appears when arranged for flooring; and Fig. 3, the tile applied to a ceiling.

My improved tile has on one side dovetailed grooves a a, there being two such grooves in the present instance; but their number may be in creased as circumstances and judgment may suggest or in proportion to the size of the tile. In applying my improved tile to a floor the latter is properly prepared and coated with a plaster or cement which, when dry, will be hard and tenacious. While alayer of this cement is in a plastic state on the floor the tiles are carefully and evenly bedded on it; and the pressure necessarily applied to the tiles causes the plaster to penetrate the dovetailed grooves, so that when the plaster is dry and hard the tiles will be held in their places much more firmly than ordinary tiles, which have no dovetailed grooves, but are simply deposited on a plaster bed.

The advantage of my invention, however, be

comes more apparent when the tiles are applied to the decoration of inner walls and ceilings. When tiles have been heretofore used for that purpose it has been a common plan to secure them with pins or nails, which not only mutilate the tiles, but are in many cases most insecure fastenings. My improved tiles, however, are selfaffixin g to a ceiling or wall, all that is necessary to properly attach them being their retention with their grooved faces against the plaster until the latter becomes hard enough to support them.

One dovetalled groove will suiiice for small tiles; but two are preferable, and even more than two may be used when the tiles are large.

It may be remarked that the dovetail ed grooves are formed in the tiles during the pressing of the latter and before the baking process.

Without limiting myself to any number or form of dovetailed grooves nor to any specific material for the tiles,

I claim- A tile having dovetailed grooves, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

DAVID H. WATTS.

Witnesses:

WM. A. STEEL, HARRY SMITH. (20) 

